Tie member for tandem pavers



Feb. 13, 1934. E. L. TRANAAS TIE MEMBER FOR TANDEM PAVERS Filed Sept.11, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 13, 1934. E. L. TRANAAS TIE MEMBER FORTANDEM PAVERS Filed Sept. 11, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwuenkoz {Zia/m5ClHowcq Feb. 13, 1934. I E. TRANAAS 1,946,922

TIE MEMBER FOR TANDEM PAVERS Filed Sept. 11, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3E'ELG- t1 Patented Feb. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Emil L.Tranaas, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Koehring Company, Milwaukee, Wis.,a corporation Application September 11, 1931 Serial No. 562,402

4 Claims.

This invention relates to concrete mixing machines and more particularlyto means for connecting a pair of paving machines in tandem.

An object of my invention is the provision of v 6 novel means forconnecting two separate mixing machines of the usual type in tandemwhereby extreme flexibility between the two machines is accomplished.

Another object is the provision of means for 10 connecting the twomachines together to positively maintain in fixed spacing between thetwo machines the connecting means constituting the skip supporting meansfor one of the machines.

Another object is the utilization of the connecting member between thetwo machines as a supporting housing for the control instrumentalitiesbetween the two machines.

A still further object is to provide a positive spacing connecting meansbetween the two machines arranged to permit the machines to be easilysteered to either side of the road or driven over rough roads or gradeswithout binding or undue strains on the connecting member. In order tomaterially increase the amount of concrete that can be mixed within agiven time there is a tendency to utilize a pair of concrete mixingmachines of the paver type, one of these machines being placed in frontof the other so that the aggregates, cement or water, are first 3introduced into the mixing drum of the first machine and there mixed ashort period of time, approximately one-half of the usual mixing period.The drum of the first machine is then allowed to discharge into the skipof the second machine while the previous charge contained in the drum ofthe second machine is being discharged. The skip of the second machineis then raised to charge the drum of the second machine at which timethe discharge chute of the second machine is turned to mixing positionand remains in this position until the material just introduced has beenmixed for the rest of the requirement length of mixing time.

An example of tandem mixing machine of this type is disclosed in thepatent to Jaicks 1,815,357. My .copending application Serial No.536,282, also discloses a tandem mixing machine in which a substantiallycomplete automatic control is established between the two pavers inorder to cause them to operate in synchronism. Since this copendingapplication discloses certain details of construction and operation ofthe machines themselves these details will not be described specificallyin this application, the same not forming an important part of thisapplication.

In the above noted patent the method of connecting the two machinestogether was such that they could only be operated under .the most 6'3ideal conditions, that is to say, on a perfectly smooth and levelsubgrade and in a substantially straight line. Due to theirsubstantially rigid interconnection it is not possible to operate themon banked curves which are almost universally used in road buildingconstruction today nor could they be independently steered ormanuevered.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter setforth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation of a tandem mixerconstruction showing my invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic top plan view of certain of the parts as seenin Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of my improved tie member and skip supportingshock absorber;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the tie member as seen in Fig. 3 butdisclosing in addition thereto the skip in loading position on the shockabsorbing means and also connecting means carried by the pavers forestablishing the interconnection between the pavers and the tie member;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed view partly in section anddisclosing one end of the tie member and its associated paverconnection;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the lines 6--6 of Fig. 4, the skip beingomitted therefrom;

Fig. '7 is a detailed view of my improved nondrip transfer or extensionchute and showing the chute in operative position, and

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but disclosing the chute ininoperative position.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures ofthe drawings.

The reference letter A indicates generally a concrete paving machine ofthe conventional type, the distributing boom having been re- 1110 movedor omitted therefrom.

The paver A is coupled in tandem to a second paver B through or by theintermediate connecting tie member C as indicated at D and E,respectively, while intermediate the ends of the tie member C isarranged the skip supporting shock absorber F.

'The tie member C as seen in Figs. 3 to 5 comprising a pair of spacedlongitudinal channels 1 suitably joined together intermediate theirlength by cross plates 2, the plates being welded or otherwise securedto the channel 1. At each end of the tie member and arranged between thechannels are disposed a pair of spaced horizontal U-shape flanged plates3 and 4. These plates are apertured at 5 to receive the coupling pins 6connecting the tie member to the pavers.

The shock absorbing means F for the skip '7 as seen in detail in Fig. 6comprises a cross member 8 having secured thereto adjacent its ends thedownwardly projecting pins or rods 9. Surrounding these pins andextending between the cross member and the lower plates 11 are coilsprings 10. These springs are of suitable size and strength to properlyabsorb the shock of the descending skip 7 as it returns to cementreceiving position as shown in Fig. 1.

The plates 11 are suitably secured to the lower flanges of the channels1 and extend laterally as clearly seen in Fig. 6. Spaced'verticalbracing plates 13 are provided which firmly support the free ends of theplates 11 on which the springs 10 rest. Surrounding the springs 10 andwelded or otherwise secured to the plates 11 are the spring receivingbarrels 12 ,which form a protection for the springs as well as guides.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 4 it will be observed that thesupporting connection for the forward end of the tie member disposed onthe paver B includes a longitudinal brace member 14 secured at 15 to across channel of the paver frame proper. The front channel of the paverB carries a depending flange plate 16 to which the other end of thebracing member 14 is secured as indicated at 17. Secured to the rearface of the plate 16 is the apertured ball-shaped member 18 having avertical opening therethrough which is somewhat flared towards its ends.

As seen in .detail in Fig. 5 the ball member 18 is designed to beinterposed between the two plates 3 and 4 of the tie member and when sopositioned the coupling pin 6 may be inserted to couple the two memberstogether. Due to the flared openings in the ball members and the ballshaped heads thereof a substantially universal connection is obtainedbetween the tie member and the paver B.

A similar ball-shaped member 19 is disposed on the rear of the forwardpaver A, this member being suitably braced or secured to the paver A .bythe channels 20 and flanged plates 21 and 22.

From the above it will be observed that the tie members C whilepositively connecting the two pavers together provides a substantiallyuniversal connection between them as well as a substantially universalconnection between each of the pavers and the tie member itself.

Due to this arrangement the pavers may be independently steered toeither side of the road on which they are working and may also beoperated on uneven surfaces such as banked curves, grades, etc., therebypermitting the machines to be free to orient themselves to the surfaceon which they stand without the slightest stress or undue torsionalstrain being transmitted either to the tie member or the paverconnections therefor.

As the skip is lowered upon the shock absorbing means F the supportingtie members C due to. the substantially universal end connections willshift or tilt to accommodate the flat undersurface of the skip andthereby prevent any undue stress from being distributed upon the skip orits supporting connections such as might be the case if the member Cwere not free to rock or oscillate as just described.

The pavers A and B as seen in Fig. 4 are arranged for synchronizedoperation and since the mechanical details of the structure utilized toeffect this operation is clearly shown in my copending application,previously referred to, these details are not shown to any great extentin this case nor are they specifically described. It should be observedhowever, that the control operating connections 22' and 23 extending,between the two pavers A and B are effectively housed and protectedwithin the tie member C.

The synchronized operation of the pavers may be briefly summarized asfollows. Assuming that the mixing drums of both pavers contain a batchof cementand that the skip of the paver A contains a batch of unmixedmaterials, the batchmeter 24 of the paver A trips off at thepredetermined time which in this case is substantially half of the timerequired to complete the mix. This causes the power discharge on thepaver A to turn the discharge chute 25 from mixing to dischargingposition and simultaneously, linkage. arrangement as seen in Figs. '7and 8, and later to be described, shifts the swing chute 26 into anoperative position over the skip 7 of the mixer B. Simultaneously withthe movement of the discharge chute 25 to discharging position the skiphoist clutch for the skip 28.

of the paver A is engaged and as the raising,

action of the skip 28 is initiated the arm 31 is actuated to engage thelever 32 causing the con nection 23 to be pulled, this connectionextending through the tie member C, as shown in the drawings. Theconnection 23 extends to a control lever on the power discharge 33 ofthe paver B and trips this power discharge chute of this paver todischarging position.

At a proper point in the upward travel of the skip 28 the powerdischarge mechanism on the paver A (not shown) is tripped in the usualmanner to throw the discharge chute 25 back to mixing position and asthe chute is returned to mixing position the linkage arrangement betweenit and the swing chute 26 is actuated to move this swing chute out ofthe Way as seen in Figs. 1 and 8.

As the swing chute 26 is moved to the inoperative position abovedescribed the flexible connecting member 22 which also extends throughthe tie member C is pulled to the right/which movement swings the lever29 to which the other end of the flexible member 22 is connected to theright. This lever also cams the lever 30 to the right. The lever 30 isoperatively connected to the skip hoist mechanism to throw in the skiphoist clutch thus causing the skip 7 to be raised.

As the skip '7 approaches its discharging position with respect to themixing drum of the paver B the discharge chute for this drum is turnedto mixing position in the usual way. The charging action of the paver A,it will be observed, controls the discharging action of the paver Bwhile the return of the discharge chute the 25 of the paver A controlsthe charging action lower end thereof a strip of flexible material 37which extends entirely across the bottom of the chute 26 between thevertical side flanges there of. On the exterior face of these flangesare secured the brackets 38 to which a segmental or arcuate plate 39 ispivoted. The plate is provided with an extending lip 40 arranged tosupport the flexible member 3? when in operative or discharging positionas seen in Fig. 7. An apertured lug 41 is secured to the plate sideflanges 39a of the plate 39 as shown and has pivoted thereto theactuating rod or link 42. The other end of this link is pivotallysecured to the irame or super-structure of the paver A.

The discharge chute 25 is operated in the usual manner and is providedwith a lever 25a to which is pivoted the link member 43. The other endof this link member is pivoted to the end of a centrally pivoted lever al which lever is pivoted to the paver frame super-structure at 45. Theother end of the lever 14 has pivoted thereto the rod 46 which forms theshifting connection for the swing chute 26. A cylindrical spring cushionmember 48 is disposed between the other end of the rod 45 and the lever34, this member being pivoted to the bracket 48 carried by the lever 34.

As the discharge chute 25 moves from discharging position as seen in lto the mixing position the rod 43 is moved downwardly to the leftcausing the rod 46 to be moved to the right. This action causes thespring within the mem' ber 4-7 to move the member to the right thusswinging the arm or lever 34 to the right.

As the arm 34 is swung as above described the pivotal center of the sideplate 39a is correspondingly moved to the right and due to the linkageconnection 42 the plate 39 rocked upwardly to the left from the positionshown in Fig. '7 to that disclosed in Fig. 8.

The lip 40 of the plate 39 raises the flexible strip or plate 37upwardly across the mouth of the swing chute 26 and into the arcuate orcurved portion while the side plate 39 and its side plates 39a form aneifective pocket to receive any cementitious material which happens toremain on the swing chute 26 at the time it is moved from mixingposition as seen in Fig. '7 to the inoperative position as seen in Fig.8. This arrangement effectively prevents any dribble or leakage ofcement from the chute 26 as the skip '7 is raised to charge the mixer B.

The shock absorber means as shown in detail in Fig. 6 and the non-dripor dribble swing chute disclosed in Figs. '7 and 8 formed the subjectmatter of separate applications and are not claimed in detail herein.

While the specific details of construction have been herein shown anddescribed, the invention is not confined thereto as changes andalterations may be made without departing from the spirit thereof asdefined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A concrete mixing apparatus comprising a combination of a pluralityof pavers arranged in tandem, mixing, charging and discharginginstrumentalities for each paver and operating connections between thecharging and discharging instrumentalities of the pavers, a tie memberfor pivotally connecting the pavers together in spaced relation, saidtie member constituting supporting means for one of the charginginstrumentalities, and a housing for the operating connections.

2. In a concrete mixing apparatus, a plurality of mixing machinesarranged in longitudinally spaced relation, a charging skip for one ofthe machines disposed intermediate the machine, and a discharge chutefor the other machine arranged to charge said charging skip, a tiemember disposed longitudinally and centrally of the two machines andarranged below the skip to constitute a support therefor when in loweredposition, and a universal connection between each end of the tie memberand one of the mixing machines so that the tie member is free to adjustitself into proper supporting position with respect to the skip and whenthe same rests thereon.

3. In concrete mixing apparatus, a plurality of mixing machines arrangedin tandem, charging means disposed intermediate the mixing machines andconnecting means extending between the mixing machines, and arranged topermit independent steering of the machines while maintaining asubstantially fixed spaced relation between the machines, saidconnecting means forming supporting means for the charging means.

l. In concrete mixing apparatus, a plurality of mixing machines arrangedin spaced relation, a charging device disposed between the mixingmachines, tie means extending between the machines and arranged tosupport the charging means, and connections between the tie means andthe mixing machines for permitting relative independent angularadjustments of the tie means with respect to the charging devices.

EMIL L. TRANAAS.

